NEWS
Sir Hilary calls for Sargassum Emergency Agency
University of the West Indies (UWI) Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles says there is a need to develop a Sargassum Emergency Agency to address the inundation of seaweed in the region. Speaking yesterday at a Sargassum symposium at UWI Cave Hill, Barbados, Beckles said the seaweed would become the “new normal” like hurricanes. “This sargassum is going to be within that traditional culture. We will have more than we need, it is nature at work but at the same time we have to protect ourselves because there’s a great deal to protect. I’m led to believe that everyday, at least 10,000 tons of seaweed are deposited on our beaches across the Caribbean,” he said. Read more…
2-year-old shooting victim dies
Two-year-old Jaheim Lord is dead, after succumbing to injuries he sustained to his head on Saturday night in Chaguanas. According to police reports, Jaheim died early yesterday morning at Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mount Hope. Read more…
Moruga man killed in home invasion
Knowing that he would not reach his dying father Fazir Mohammed in time, 16-year-old Daqwuud Mohammed’s last message to his father was, “tell my daddy I love him.” The elder Mohammed, 40, was shot dead on Sunday night after he wrestled a gunman who invaded their Moruga home and aimed a gun at his wife. With his eyes bloodshot, the younger Mohammed said he hopes his family gets justice for his father’s death. According to police, Mohammed, 45, a checker at the Princes Town Regional Corporation was watching television with his wife Shaheeda at their home at Nayyar Avenue, St Mary's when a man called out. Read more…
POLITICS
PM relies on T&T’s tradition of democracy
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the National Security Council has put measures in place to ensure free and fair elections without thuggery and violence. Speaking in Penal with members of the media after she filed her nomination papers as a candidate to contest the Siparia seat yesterday afternoon, the prime minister said they have increased security in the country from now right up until Carnival next year. “So we have called out the reserves, we are on high alert to ensure we have free and fair elections without thuggery and violence.” Read more…
Tassa, dancing in St Joseph
In other parts of the world, elections are marred with bloodshed and mayhem while in Trinidad and Tobago the people are blessed to square off over tassa and dancing. This was the case yesterday in the marginal seat of St Joseph, where supporters of United National Congress (UNC) candidate Vasant Bharath and People's National Movement's (PNM) Terrence Deyalsingh “clashed” in front of the nomination office on Aranjuez Main Road. Read more…
BUSINESS
Sagicor records net half-year profit of US$22.4m
Barbados-based insurer Sagicor Financial group, in results released yesterday on the London Stock Exchange, posted a net profit of US$22.4 million in the first half (H1) of 2015 versus US$5.7 million same time last year. From continuing operations net income was US$37.5 million for H1 2015, compared to US$33.2 million last year, an increase of 13 per cent. The continuing operations comprise Sagicor's businesses in the Caribbean and in the USA. Sagicor is still bleeding losses from its discontinued UK business, and reports results separately. Sagicor lost US$15.1 million “from discontinued operations” in H1 2015, down from the US$27.5 million loss last year same period. Read more…
Energy Chamber renews call to remove fuel subsidy
Energy Chamber president Dr Thackwray Driver has renewed the group’s call for removal of the fuel subsidy which he describes as economically unsustainable as well as a threat to the environment as it promotes the use of traditional fuels which increase CO2 emissions. He did so in his welcome address at the unveiling of T&T’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (iNDCs) ahead of the 21st Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) scheduled for France in December. The launch took place on Friday evening at the International Waterfront Centre in Port-of-Spain. Dr Driver said the chamber acknowledges climate change as a global issue that requires commitment from all countries. He highlighted the work the chamber has been doing toward development of a carbon market, including establishment of a carbon emissions trading scheme aimed at eradicating carbon emissions through the capture of fugitive emissions from onshore oil producers, carbon capture and sequestration and switching to CNG and other clean fuels. Read more…
REGIONAL
Cayman Islands legislator calls homosexuals evil
One of the longest-serving members of the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly, Anthony Eden, has derided rights for the lesbian gay bisexual transgender (LGBT) community and warned that the next step would be bestiality, as “people demanded the right to make love to their animals”. Debating a private member’s motion asking government to preserve “traditional marriage”, last Thursday, the 23-year political veteran was vehement in his condemnation of homosexuality, which he said was “evil”, and launched an outright attack on LGBTs. In a speech focused on the Bible, he said Satan was working through educators and others, including the media, who used words to describe “deviant behaviour” in a way to convince people it was acceptable. Read more…
Hayles To Challenge DK Duncan - Western Hanover MP Ready To Lead Region Six
Two-time member of parliament Ian Hayles declared on Saturday that contrary to the wishes of some influential members of the People's National Party (PNP)'s hierarchy, he will be challenging incumbent Dr D.K. Duncan for the leadership of the party's Region 6. Hayles, the member of parliament for Western Hanover, revealed his plan to a standing-room-only crowd of comrades at the Montego Bay High School auditorium in St James. A delegates conference is scheduled for Montego Bay next Sunday to select the leaders for the region, which comprises St James, Hanover and Westmoreland. "I want to say thank you D.K. Duncan for your service as the chairman of Region Six...After I win on Sunday, I am prepared to offer you the olive branch so that we can work together to win Region Six for the PNP," said Hayles. Read more…
INTERNATIONAL
Bangkok bomb: CCTV video shows man leave backpack
Greece: Third bailout to start Thursday
If all goes according to plan, Greece is set to receive the first chunk of its third bailout on Thursday. The package, worth up to 86 billion euros ($95 billion), will help the country avoid an outright financial collapse. Germany's parliament will vote on the bailout on Wednesday, and the majority of German lawmakers are expected to approve the loans. Germany and all the other countries that use the euro currency have agreed in principle to bail out Greece. But this time they'll have to do it without the direct financial support of the International Monetary Fund -- at least for now. Read more…
18th August 2015